Financial Planning

How to Build a Confident Retirement as a Northwell Employee with Belinda Tsui (Ep. 189)

By Retirement Unlocked | December 3, 2025

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Retirement planning for Northwell Health employees involves understanding a range of unique benefits and making strategic financial decisions. Many employees across all tiers and roles are unsure how these pieces fit together as they approach retirement.

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, speaks with Belinda Tsui, CFP®, about how strategic planning can help employees understand what they have, what they may be leaving unclaimed, and how each decision affects retirement planning goals.

They explore common scenarios for physicians, nurses, administrators, and other employees navigating their retirement plan options. The message is clear: knowing your benefits early, coordinating income sources, and avoiding costly timing mistakes can make a meaningful difference for Northwell employees when it’s time to retire.

What to expect:

The most common benefits Northwell employees might miss
Key decisions employees face as they approach age 65
Northwell pensions, cash balance plans, and deferred compensations
How Heller Wealth Management has helped their Northwell clients that are nurses, administrators, & physicians to set up for a successful retirement
And more!

Resources:

Northwell Employee Retirement Ready Checklist

Connect with Belinda Tsui:

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About Our Guest:

Belinda Tsui, CFP® approaches wealth management the same way she undertakes any other discipline in her life. She has many clients that are working for Northwell Health or have retired from Northwell Health with her help. With laser focus, cool reserve, steely resolve and unwavering adherence to the principals and fundamentals that foster success and lead – ultimately – to mastery of the craft. The ‘craft’ in this case being comprehensive financial and investment planning. The finer points of which include designing customized portfolios, plan implementation, portfolio rebalancing, customizing asset reports and operations management. Skills acquired and finely honed over 20 years of advising, counselling and creating financial resilience for high net worth individuals, family trusts, foundations, corporate executives and business owners.

What You Can Still Do to Cut Your 2025 Tax Bill with Jonathan Niyazov (Ep. 188)

By Retirement Unlocked | November 19, 2025

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Year-end tax season doesn’t have to catch you off guard. With the latest tax law updates now in effect, there are new windows of opportunity, but also new limitations, especially for high-income earners and business owners.

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Jonathan Niyazov, CPA, to unpack how the 2025 tax code changes are reshaping financial planning conversations. From expanded SALT deductions and personal exemptions to permanent bonus depreciation and R&D credits, the 2025 tax code changes are reshaping planning conversations. The real challenge? Knowing how and when to act before December 31st to keep more of what you’ve earned.

What to expect from this release:

How income thresholds impact the new deduction and exemption limits
Strategic planning moves for high earners, senior taxpayers, and business owners
The power of Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting, and retroactive refund claims
Why choosing the right business structure may help reduce your tax bill in 2025 and beyond
And more!

Resources:

How to Avoid a Tax Time Bomb in Retirement (Ep. 185)

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About Our Guest:

Jonathan Niyazov is an accomplished Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a wealth of experience assisting mid-size to large businesses and high-net-worth individuals with their tax needs. With a distinguished career spanning prestigious international accounting firms, he brings an acute understanding of the tax code that is crucial for any growing business and its owners. Jonathan’s expertise extends to assisting overseas companies in establishing a business presence in the United States and providing guidance to US companies expanding abroad.

He leverages his commercial tax expertise to deliver high-quality tax services to a diverse portfolio of clients across many industries and sectors. His experience and expertise is centered around tax management, consulting, and compliance, with a focus on S corporation, partnership, corporate, and individual taxation.

Later-in-Life Marriages: What You Need to Protect (Ep. 187)

By Retirement Unlocked | November 5, 2025

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When love finds you later in life, what happens to your legacy?

With over 1,300 stepfamilies forming every day, later-in-life relationships are more common than ever, but so are the financial complexities that come with them.

Whether you’re remarrying, cohabiting, or just exploring the next chapter, decisions around Social Security, estate planning, asset titling, and medical directives can be emotionally and financially loaded.

We’re laying out what you need to think through before you say “I do” (or move in). Because when assets, families, and emotions all intersect, proactive planning is what brings peace of mind.

What to expect:

The critical age 60 rule that can impact your Social Security survivor benefits
How to protect your kids from a previous marriage, even if you trust your new spouse
What happens to your home if you’re unmarried and pass away first?
Why adult children need to be part of your planning conversations
And more!

Resources:

Checklist for Later-In-Life Relationships

Connect with Larry Heller:

The 6 Retirement Mistakes To Avoid (Ep. 177)

By Retirement Unlocked | June 4, 2025

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The market is unpredictable; your retirement plan shouldn’t be.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down six of the most common (and costly) mistakes people make when planning for retirement. From underestimating how much you can spend to failing to optimize your Social Security benefits, Larry shares why these pitfalls occur and how a process-based retirement plan can help you avoid them.

Whether you’re approaching retirement or already there, this episode provides actionable strategies to help you invest wisely, reduce emotional decision-making, and stay aligned with your long-term financial goals.

Key conversations in this week’s release include:

The importance of knowing how much you can truly spend in retirement [00:00:47]
Why creating a total return strategy beats relying solely on income [00:03:20]
The pitfalls of being too conservative with your investment portfolio [00:07:02]
When to start withdrawing from your retirement accounts—not just when RMDs kick in [00:10:32]
How to optimize Social Security for the best possible outcome [00:13:17]
The critical need for a comprehensive estate plan [00:15:51]
And more

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Breaking the Health Insurance Mold: The New Health Plan Playbook with Louis Bernardi [Ep. 176]

By Retirement Unlocked | May 21, 2025

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Health insurance is one of the largest expenses for many businesses, but are you getting what you’re paying for?

In this eye-opening episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, speaks with Louis Bernardi of BrightPath Benefit Advisors about the outdated and opaque nature of most employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Louis reveals how major carriers prioritize shareholder profits over actual care and explains how his PLAN system and data-driven strategies are helping employers cut costs while providing better healthcare options for employees.

From skyrocketing pharmacy costs to hidden MRI fees, Lou unpacks the waste baked into the system and provides actionable strategies to fix it. This is a behind-the-scenes look at an advanced strategy most employers haven’t even heard of.

Key discussions in this release include:

Why traditional health insurance models are broken
The hidden data behind skyrocketing healthcare costs
How Lou’s PLAN system (Prioritize, Leverage, Align, Navigate) helps optimize benefit design
Real-world savings on pharmacy and imaging costs
Options for companies of all sizes
And more!

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About Our Guest:

Louis Bernardi is the Founder & Benefit Optimization Officer of BritePath. Lou is the innovator behind BritePath, the benefit strategy that flattens the curve on health insurance costs. BritePath helps benefit decision makers reset their expectations with advanced analytics & insights that make them and their members more informed health care consumers capable of changing the trajectory of the cost and quality of their employer-sponsored health insurance plan. Pay More, Get Less is replaced by a High-Performance Health Care Plan that allows them to finally start winning.

Lou is proud to be among the first 150 advisors accepted into Health Rosetta; an eco-system of forward-thinking advisors and solution partners that share his passion for helping people and businesses customize health plans that enhance benefits, improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Lou is also involved with Aspirational Healthcare, Free Market Medical and is a Forbes Business Council member.

Your 5-Year Retirement Countdown: Key Steps to Take Now [Ep.175]

By Retirement Unlocked | May 7, 2025

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What are some steps you should be taking 5 years before your retirement?

This question sets the stage for an engaging episode with Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA ®, where we delve into the crucial five-year countdown to retirement.

Larry emphasizes the importance of timely planning and actionable strategies to ensure a smooth shift into this new life phase. From building up cash reserves to maximizing 401(k) contributions, Larry walks us through a comprehensive guide tailored to those nearing retirement.

Larry covers topics such as:

Building cash reserves and why they’re crucial for a stable retirement [00:01:06]
Strategies to maximize your 401k contributions, especially for those over 50 [00:02:33]
Tax-efficient withdrawal strategies and their significance in your retirement plan [00:06:23]
The concept of a ‘Retirement Lifestyle Dry Run’ to mentally and financially prepare for life after work [00:10:34]
And more!

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Accounting Firm M&A: Trends, Valuations & Challenges with Geoff Bruskin [Ep.172]

By Retirement Unlocked | March 5, 2025

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It’s time to discuss the world of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in accounting.

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA ® sits down with Geoff Bruskin, M&A specialist from White Tiger Connections, Inc., to discuss the bustling landscape of M&A, particularly within accounting. Geoff, with his extensive background in business brokerage and private equity, sheds light on why accounting firms have become hot commodities for private equity firms and other investors in today’s market.

They explore the emergence of PE interest in an untapped sector, revealing insights on operational optimization and technology’s transformative role. The conversation touches on AI’s potential to reshape professional services and offers a roadmap for navigating talent challenges in the industry.

Key conversations in this release include:

Why accounting firms are gaining traction in M&A
The impact of subscription-based and value-based billing
AI’s revolutionary role in professional services
Trends in small to medium-sized CPA firms
Tackling talent shortages and future strategies
And so much more!

Connect with Geoff Bruskin:

Connect with Larry Heller:

About Our Guest:

Geoff Bruskin helps CPA firms and wealth management practices scale, merge, acquire, and ultimately realize the enterprise value they’ve built. As the founder of White Tiger Connections, Geoff operates at the intersection of M&A advisory, business brokerage, and strategic growth – whether organic or through acquisition.

Beyond the accounting and financial services sectors, Geoff works with firm owners and their clients across industries – construction, logistics, IT/MSP, marketing, manufacturing, and beyond – helping them navigate liquidity events, capital raises, and succession planning with precision.

Geoff also hosts The Nexus Point Podcast, where he sits down with industry leaders, investors, and operators to dimensionalize trends in M&A, private capital, and firm growth strategy.

At the core of everything: relationships. The best opportunities emerge from trust, alignment, and a clear understanding of what success looks like – today and years down the road.

Mastering Retirement Withdrawals: Expert Tips for Smart Distribution Planning [Ep. 169]

By Retirement Unlocked | January 15, 2025

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Do you know the smartest way to manage your withdrawals in retirement?

In this episode of the Life Unlimited podcast, host Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, shares expert strategies for managing retirement withdrawals to ensure financial stability and tax efficiency.

Larry covers essential steps for building a smart distribution plan, emphasizing pre-retirement planning and proactive wealth management. The episode explores the benefits of Roth conversions, the impact of the Secure 2.0 Act, and critical topics such as the widow penalty, annuities, and estate planning, all supported by real client insights.

Whether you’re approaching retirement or already retired, this episode offers practical tips to help you minimize taxes, optimize withdrawals, and protect your wealth and legacy. Don’t miss this valuable guide to mastering your retirement finances!

Key episode discussions include:

Strategic tax planning to minimize taxes before the distribution phase
Understanding different income streams like Social Security, pensions, and retirement accounts
Real client scenarios illustrating the impact of effective and missed strategies
The effects of federal and state estate taxes, plus planning for longevity
Integrating attorneys and other professionals for a holistic financial plan
And more!

Resources:

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Beyond Accumulation: Mastering Your Retirement Distribution Strategy [Ep. 164]

By Retirement Unlocked | November 20, 2024

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Retirement isn’t just about accumulating wealth – it’s about making sure it lasts.

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, explores the essential elements of a well-rounded distribution strategy for retirement, including guiding you through five key areas every retiree should prioritize: income vs. total return, tax management, investment allocation, longevity, and estate planning.

Larry dives deep into the shift from accumulation to distribution, revealing strategies to help retirees sustain income, reduce taxes, and cover health expenses—all while preparing a meaningful legacy. With a focus on turning retirement into a financially secure and fulfilling stage of life, this episode provides actionable advice on balancing your immediate needs with a long-term vision.

Whether you’re entering retirement or aiming to enhance your financial strategy, this episode will equip you with the tools and mindset to enjoy a confident and comfortable retirement.

Key Points Covered:

Combining income sources like Social Security, pensions, and investments to balance retirement income and comfort
Reducing tax burdens through Roth conversions and managing required minimum distributions (RMDs) under the latest Secure Act changes
Using the “reservoir strategy” to balance cash, bonds, and equities for steady income and minimized risk
Addressing healthcare and long-term care costs to protect assets and maintain financial stability
Aligning estate plans with tax strategies to maximize inheritance for heirs
And much more!

Actionable Takeaway: Review your retirement plan to ensure it supports your lifestyle, reduces tax impacts, and aligns with your legacy goals. Consult a financial planner to tailor it to your unique needs for a fulfilling retirement.

Resources:

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The Ripple Effect: How Recent Fed Actions Affect your Financial Plan [Ep. 162]

By Retirement Unlocked | October 2, 2024

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Interest rates may be falling, but your financial strategy doesn’t have to follow. Learn how to stay ahead in today’s ever-changing financial landscape.

Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, breaks down how these shifting rates impact everything from mortgages to retirement plans. Whether you’re buying a home, optimizing investments, or planning for your financial future, Larry offers actionable insights to help you navigate today’s economic landscape. Covering the rise and fall of interest rates and their effects on borrowing, saving, and investing, he provides strategies for adapting your financial plan across asset classes to protect your wealth.

Key Points Covered:

The Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut and its broader economic implications
How shifting rates impact mortgage costs, housing availability, and borrowing strategies
Key adjustments to retirement planning, including withdrawal rates and asset allocation in a low-rate environment
Adapting your savings strategy with CDs and treasuries (while considering the current inverted yield curve!)
Effective investment approaches across bonds, stocks, and real estate in the face of rate fluctuations
Opportunities in private equity and private credit investments as interest rates decrease
The importance of a diversified strategy and proactive communication, as emphasized by Heller Wealth Management
And much more!

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